All Travel Guide Vietnam – Vietnam has risen to prominence on the Southeast Asian tourist scene despite its turbulent past. Unsurprisingly for a nation that is so long and thin, there is a wide variety of landscapes to be found there, including emerald paddy fields, white sand beaches, bustling cities, ancient pagodas, limestone islands that rise dramatically from the ocean, huge cave systems, craggy mountains, and welcoming minority communities that still practice their ancient traditions and wear elaborate tribal garb. You will be welcomed with open arms and curiosity if you visit Vietnam. You’re onto a winner when you combine that with some of the most complex food in the area.
Vietnam’s beautiful environment most impresses, despite Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the other main cities being attractive enough. The South China Sea, also known as the East Sea by the Vietnamese, is located to the east and is surrounded to the west by rugged mountains that border Cambodia and Laos. It is in these areas that you will find the paddy fields, dragonflies, buffaloes, and farmers wearing conical hats that make up the traditional pictures of Vietnam. To the north and south, the land fantails out into the magnificent deltas of the Red River and the Mekong.
Regarding wildlife, the riches of Vietnam’s biodiversity is demonstrated by the recent discovery of several previously undiscovered species of plants, birds, and animals. For those looking to visit Vietnam, the easier access to the nation’s national parks is all the more welcome.
Vietnam travel information
- Vietnamese is the spoken language (majority of population).
- Dong (VND) is the currency’s official unit.
- Ninety-five million people. The country has one of the largest rural population densities in Southeast Asia, with over two-thirds of the population living there, while the literacy rate is about 95%.
- Two million tourists visited in 2000; fifteen million in 2018.
- Politics: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam, with its capital city of Hanoi, is one of the remaining one-party Communist governments still in existence. With more than 3400 kilometers of coastline, it has shared land boundaries with China, Laos, and Cambodia. Its total area is approximately 330,000 square kilometers.
- There are eight UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam. The biggest known cave in the world, Hang Son Doong, is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Places to see in Vietnam
If you visit Vietnam, you’ll find that there are a lot of lovely and interesting sites to see. Experience the energy of bustling Ho Chi Minh City or mesmerizing Hanoi, with its vivid Old Quarters and delectable street cuisine, while a more laid-back experience can be had in the attractive riverside village of old Hoi An in central Vietnam.
While a trip to the isolated highland areas of central and northern Vietnam is likely to focus on the ethnic minority that live there, the Central Highlands offers wonderful trekking options and other outdoor hobbies, with the breezy mountain town of Da Lat serving as the ideal base.
Visit the beautiful floating marketplaces in the Mekong Delta and meander through the stunning limestone-forested islands of Ha Long Bay to explore the pancake-flat rice fields of that region.
A trip to Vietnam is obviously incomplete without some leisurely beach time. Choose from one of the stunning golden beaches in the south, such Doc Let beach on the Hon Khoi Peninsula, and take advantage of the excellent swimming and snorkeling opportunities as well as delectable seafood.
Vietnam’s prime tourism season
Vietnam is long and thin, and different locations experience various weather conditions at any one moment, making it challenging to choose the ideal time to visit.
The nation experiences tropical monsoon weather. The driest months in the south of the nation are normally between December and April, whereas spring and fall are often the driest seasons in the north.
Regional variances exist within this general weather pattern, and different temperatures are also largely influenced by changes in height. Winters in the north are much colder than they are in the south, which typically has a tropical climate all year round.
Vietnam may still be enjoyed during the rainy season, but if you’re planning on going hiking, be in mind that monsoon downpours can cause floods in certain locations and seriously hamper transportation. Additionally, there will be a significant increase of mosquitoes.
Getting to Vietnam
Vietnam is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, as seen by the rise in recent months in the number of foreign flights to the country.
The great majority of tourists arrive in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi via plane, while a sizable portion still choose to travel less expensively through an indirect trip that passes through Bangkok, Singapore, or Hong Kong.
If there are no direct flights available from the location from which you wish to go, taking an indirect route can be your only choice. While it is possible to go directly from London, there are no direct flights from Ireland, North America, New Zealand, or even a small number of flights from Australia.
Alternatively, you can go through China, Laos, or Cambodia to enter Vietnam. As long as you have the proper visa, it’s rather easy, and by choosing this option, you’ll be able to see more of the area than if you were to fly in.
There are several ways to go about Vietnam. Although a little unpolished currently, its transportation system is developing. You may either take a coach or one of the cozy buses that run often and at reasonable prices. Booking a seat on an overnight train may be an enticing choice if you’re traveling a long way. Alternately, there are inexpensive domestic flight options that enable quick trips to various parts of the nation.
